Duh. I’m not sure why I’ve been doing this series for five years, and it has never occurred to me to give you all the cookies in one perfect post. That way, when you’re sitting around thinking what can I make for this XXX (cookie exchange, holiday party, gift for a friend etc.), you can… Read more »

Peppermint bark is a staple on every cookie tray I do. It’s so ridiculously easy, tasty and pretty. But this simple twist takes the pretty factor to a whole new level; peppermint bark looks positively bakery-worth when made in silicone molds! The finished snowflakes pop out so easily once hardened. And they are perfect every… Read more »

If you’re looking for a big, fat chocolate cookie that will not flatten during baking and is bursting with flavor from two kinds of chocolate, this is your cookie. It is midnight black, thanks to the Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa — so there’s no mistaking that this cookie is serious about chocolate. I took these… Read more »

Every cookie platter needs some fudge on it; I love this white chocolate version because it’s so unexpected. And boy is it ever addictive. Of all the cookies I made this year, these were the ones I could NOT stop eating — perhaps because they’re cut into such small pieces so it seems like no… Read more »

Why should cakes hog all the red velvet goodness? I’ve eaten a million red velvet cakes and, until recently, I’d never had a red velvet cookie. The version I had was a peanut butter blossom with a red velvet component (which means there’s some cocoa and red food coloring in it). Something about the peanut… Read more »

Remember those Cranberry Bliss Bars from Starbucks? These are even better! I know. It’s kind of a bold claim. But hear me out, folks — these are so jam packed with complementary flavors that a whole party happens in your mouth with each bite. Warm, toasted brown butter flavor in the crust and topping, zingy… Read more »

Prince. Madonna. Cher. Shakira. Rihanna. Q: What do these celebrities all have in common? (Besides the fact they all have hair extensions.) A: They’re so iconic, they only need one name. So when I first encountered the Vunderbar, I thought Wow, that’s ballsy. This dessert thinks it has one-name status already. I mean even the… Read more »

Do you keep fifty six boxes of Girl Scout Thin Mints in the freezer because you’re afraid of running out? Oh. Maybe that’s just me then. I have loved Thin Mints since I was eight years old, so when I realized I could make them myself it was life changing. Life changing. I saved the… Read more »

It’s Day 5, and I’ve got a good one for you! You have to have at least one spice cookie on your cookie platter because, well, this is the season for spices. It’s the holidays, darn it. Time to use up those jars of ginger and cloves you’ve had in your pantry for three years!!!… Read more »

Welcome to Day 4! This cookie wins the award for Prettiest of the Series. Aren’t they stunning? Don’t worry — they’re ridiculously good too. If you like chocolate and Nutella, I think you might have a new best friend. While they look fussy, they’re really not. Making the cookie cups is really no big deal… Read more »

These amazing cookies almost didn’t make the cut because I messed them up the first time I made them. I wasn’t paying attention to how I was supposed to roll them out (the directions say a 12-13-inch square). I rolled the dough waaaaaaay too thin, like a pie crust, and it was a mess to… Read more »

Welcome to Day 2! These were the very first batch of cookies I made when beginning to test recipes for this series. I made them in early October and it was like 80 degrees here (which is odd). It did not feel like the holidays and yet I knew instantly that these would make the… Read more »

It’s December!!! Welcome to my favorite blog series of the year. I’ve been baking since October to narrow down my cookie recipes to the best 12. Though I did slip and post one runner-up recipe, I kept everything else a secret and I have to tell you it’s almost as hard as keeping your pregnancy… Read more »

I am knee-deep in butter and flour testing cookies for my annual 12 Days of Cookies series, which begins December 1. As usual, I am so excited for this year’s lineup — they are so varied and so good — but I always have a ton of odds-and-ends ingredients laying around after testing a zillion… Read more »

I’m so sad to say this is Day 12! I love this series. I work on it all year long. I try so hard to find cookies that are a little different from the usual holiday standards, but just as (or more!) delicious. During my testing this year I went through more butter, sugar and… Read more »

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Even though the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, Daylight Saving Time is quickly approaching! On Sunday, March 8th at 2:00am, most of us will turn our clocks ahead one hour. Here are some tips that you can implement now to help you and your baby make a smooth transition as we “spring forward.”… Read more »